CRRC delivers first new electric locomotive for Serbian power plant

Chinese manufacturer CRRC ZELC has delivered the first of two electric locomotives it is supplying for state-owned Serbian electricity company EPS.

The CRRC Zhuzhou locomotives will be used to provide more reliable coal transportation between the Nikola Tesla power station and the Kolubara power station in Belgrade.

According to EPS, the new locomotives will have double the power of the existing fleet, consume less energy and produce less noise.

Each locomotive weighs 120 tonnes and is 21.7 metres long.

Acting director of EPS Milorad Grčić said (translated from Serbian): “For EPS it is important that the Chinese locomotive can operate in adverse weather conditions, as last winter we saw how important it is to have reliable transportation of coal from the mine to the power plant.”

He added that the contract was worth 533 million dinars, around €4.4 million.

President of CRRC ZELC Zhou Qinghe said this was the company’s first contract in Serbia and that he hoped they could ‘continue cooperation’.

Savo Bezmarević, executive director of EPS’s electricity generation technical affairs, added that this is the largest investment in TENT’s rail transport.